Shutter-actuating apparatus



H. B. IEMMRICK.

SHUTTER ACTUAIING APPARATUS.

APPLlcmoN man JuLY 20.1918.

1,344,997. l n Pawnuunezs, 1920.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

HANS B. EMMRICK, OFGIDDINGS, TEXAS.

SHUTTEIR-ACTUATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29,1920,

Application mea my 2o, 191s. serial No. 245,875.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known'that I, HANsB. EMMRICK,

a citizen of the United States, `'residing at Giddings, in. the county of Lee and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shutter Actuating Ap paratus, of which the following is a speciii' cation. j c

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and relatively `inexpensive apparatusA by means of which a camera shutter may be operated either for snapshots or time exposures, from a point at a distance from g the camera so that the operator may be in` cluded in the photograph and yet be able to absolutely control the time and duration of the exposure to suit theconditions under which `theophoto may be taken.

Further objects and advantages will ap-` pear in the following description7 it being understood that changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings f Figure 1 is a' general view of an apparatus embodying the invention,`

Fig. 2 is a detailed view partly in section of the apparatus showing the application of or connection with a camera. v

In the illustrated embodiment 'of the invention the camera which may be of any ordinary'type indicated atlO is provided with the usual flexible tube 11 ordinarily' provided with a bulb for controlling the operation of the shutter, buty in lieu of such' a bulb the apparatus includes a cylinder 12 which is in communication .by means of a nipple 13 with said tube. A reservoir 14 having a nipple 14. with which may be connected an ordinary bicycle.pump or the equivalent thereof for producing a desired pressure within thereservoir, is i'n communication by means of a tube 16 with a1 pressure chamber 17, the communication between said reservoir and chamber controlled by a valve 18 which is yieldingl held seated by means of a spring v19.' Thls valve is carried by or connected with a lever 20 provided with an armature21 arranged in operativerelation with anelectro-magnet 22, in circuit with a battery or series of cells 23 or' other source of electrical energy con-H trolled` by a switch such as of the push button type indicated at 24a-any suitable length of connection 25 being arranged between the switch and the battery and magnet which are preferably arranged .inl a small compact space and housedfor example as in a con-` venient portable casing 26.

within the cylinder/12 which is intemmunication `with the pressure chamber 17 is v located a piston 27 yieldingly held in a repressed position by an actuating spring 28 which is adapted ,to be compressed to cause a discharge of air from the upper portion of the cylinder to the shutter actuating means through the tube 11 by an increase of pressure in the chamber 17 sufiicient to move the said piston in opposition to the'spring 28.

The reservoir being charged with a suitable pressureof air, introduced for example as above suggested, and the severalconnectionshaving been made'as indicated, the closing of the circuit through the battery and magnet by the operation of the switch .24 will cause the attraction of the armature 21 and the unseating of the valve 18 which admitting pressure tothe chamber 17 will result in the actuation of the piston and the discharge from theupper end of the cylinder 12 of a suiiicient quantity of air toactuate the camera shutter and if a snapshot is to be taken it is simply necessary to momentarily close said circuit and then permit it immediately to open whereupon the pressure'within the chamber 17 will escape `through the outlet 29 and the spring 28 will restore the piston to its normal position and permit the camera shutter to close. On the otherha'nd if a time exposure of any desired durationV is'required, it is simply necessary to lmaintain a' closed circuit through the magnet for the required length of time, the

lever 20 being provided with a closure 30 for the outlet 29 when the armature is in its attracted position and the valve 18 is open.

'-Also in order to avoid the application of exracy and under substantially the same conditions as in the ordinary practice, by means of an apparatus arranged as indicated, even though the operator may be located at a considerable distance from the camera, be-

cause the column of air used in the actuation of the shutter and the parts controlling its movement is no longer than ordinarily used Where the shutter is actuated by the bulb, Whereas if the tube leading into the shutter from the bulb were of a length sufficient to permit the operator to occupy a distant station, the compression of the air in the course of transmission of the pressure would detract materially from if not destroy the eiciency of the same. When the circuit in the present apparatus is closed, the action with reference to the admission of operating air from the reservoir to the piston cylinder is instantaneous, and While the advantages of the use of air in the `operation of the shutter are thereby retained, the loss of energy due to the transmission of pressure through a long conductor is avoided.

Having described the invention I claim 1. An apparatus for the purpose described having a cylinderand piston, a pressure chamber in communication with the cylin`- der, a compressed air reservoir for communication with sald pressure chamber, a yieldingly seated valve for controlllng commun1 cation between said reservoir chamber, an escape port in the reservoir chamber, an electro-magnet and armature of which the latter is connected with said valve, a closure carried by the armature for closing the escape port, and a battery and switch in circuit with said electro-magnet.

2. An apparatus for the purpose described having a cylinder and piston adapted to furnish a blast of shutter actuating pressure to a camera, a pressure chamber 1n communication with the piston cylinder and provided With an outlet, an air pressure reservoir in communication with said pressure chamber, a yieldingly seated valve for controlling communication between the reservoir and said pressure chamber, a lever connected with said controlling valve, an electro-magnet and armature of which the latter is carried by thesaid lever, a closure forsaid outlet carried by the lever and adapted -to be seated when the armature is attracted,

and a source of electrical energy and a switch in circuit with said magnet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

HANS B. EMMRICK. 

